Remodeling ceiling clip

ABSTRACT

A clip structure is designed to snap over the flange of an existing suspended ceiling system suspension member. This clip will then accept or join with a new suspension member to help in the establishment of a second suspended ceiling system under the original suspended ceiling system of a room. To the second suspended ceiling system there is then mounted new ceiling boards to provide the ceiling with a new visible ceiling structure.

Unite States Patent [1 1 Murray et al.

[451 Mar. 18, 1975 REMODELING CEILING CLIP Inventors: Jay P. Murray,Columbia; Kenneth L. Wasson, Lancaster, both of Pa.

Assignee: Armstrong Cork Company,

Lancaster, Pa.

Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 Appl. No.: 452,000

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 317,668, Dec. 22,1972,

abandoned.

U.S. Cl 52/498, 52/484, 52/489, 52/760 Int. Cl E04b 5/55 Field of Search52/474, 476,479, 473,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,998 1/1962 Buchmeier52/479 3,055,469 9/1962 Byssing et al. 5 2/484 X 3,058,172 10/1962Phillips 52/484 X 3,807,114 4/1974 Ollinger 52/489 Primary Examiner.l.Karl Bell [57] ABSTRACT A clip structure is designed to snap over theflange of an existing suspended ceiling system suspension mem-' her.This clip will then accept or join with a new suspension member to helpin-the establishment of a second suspended ceiling system under theoriginal suspended ceiling system of a room. To the second suspendedceiling system there is then mounted new ceiling boards to provide theceiling with a new visible ceiling structure.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAR l 8l975 CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This is a division, of application Ser. No. 317,668,filed Dec. 22, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionherein is directed to a suspended ceiling system and, more particularly,to a replacement type suspended ceiling system which is designed tooverlie an existing suspended ceiling system.

2. Description of the Prior Art During the remodeling of an area, anormal suspended ceiling system would have the ceiling boards removedand disposed of and new ceiling boards placed in position. This involvesnot only the expense of replacing the old boards with new boards, butalso the disposing of the old ceiling boards. To date, the art haslargely confined itself to this technique of remodeling.

Many different clip structures are utilized in the prior art to holdceiling boards in position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,058,172 discloses oneembodiment of a clip structure wherein the clip is fastened to oneportion of a suspended ceiling system and holds a second portion of asuspended ceiling system in position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,058,172 is also of interest because it shows a structurewherein there is one set of ceiling boards positioned beneath anotherset of ceiling boards. However, this ceiling structure is of interestonly in that it provides a fire resistant ceiling system containing afire resistant board in back of a non-fire resistant decorative ceilingboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Due to the fact that a lay-in type of suspendedceiling after some years becomes discolored or otherwise soiled, it hasbecome desirable to be able to put up a new ceiling underlying theoriginal ceiling rather than to replace the soiled ceiling boards andscrub the grid of the existing ceiling system.

The feature that permits the placement of a second ceiling system underan existing ceiling system is the sheet metal clip invention herein.This metal clip is snapped over the flange of the existing ceilingsuspension members and is designed to specifically accept a specialcross tee suspension member which will then be utilized to support newceiling boards in position in a second ceiling system. Use of the clipmeans that a new ceiling can be installed directly under a soiled,stained, lay-in ceiling with a drop of approximately 1 inch in roomheight. The new ceiling system will line up with existing lightingfixtures and thus provide considerable saving in the cutting of ceilingboards and adjustment of lighting fixtures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of theclip structure invention herein;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the clip structure in position; and

FIG. III is a side view of the clip structure invention In use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention herein isspecifically designed for use underlying an existing suspended ceilingsystem. When it becomes desirable to put up a new ceiling, rather thanreplace the ceiling boards and scrub the grid of the existing ceiling,the clip structure invention herein can be mounted upon the gridwork ofthe existing ceiling and new boards may be placed in position underlyingthe soiled panels.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown the clip structure herein. The clipstructure is basically an inverted T- shaped structure with snap-on clipfingers at its upper end which would be the base of the leg of theinverted T-shape. The clip structure 2 has a vertical web 4 which iscomposed of two leg members 6 and 8 which are spaced from each other andresiliently hinged to a horizontal flange member 10. On the horizontalflange member 10 will be mounted the grid structure of the new secondaryceiling. The legs 6 and 8 are resiliently mounted primarily due to theresilient nature of sheet metal used to form clip 2 and the overallconstruction of the clip 2.

On the ends of the legs 6 and 8 opposite from the flange 10, there arepositioned clip fingers 12 which engage the flange structure of anoverlying existing grid system of a suspended ceiling. The clip fingers12 are generally U-shaped with the U resting on its side. The resilientnature of the legs 6 and 8 will permit the legs to spring apart such adistance that the flange structure of an overlying grid system may slideinto the mouths 14 of the clip fingers 12. The resilient nature of thelegs 6 and 8 then let the clip fingers l2 slide over the edge of thepreexisting flange structure and this will hold the clip in position onthe flange structure of the original ceiling. On a single clip structure2, the upper end thereof is provided with four clip fingers 12 withspac' ing 16 between two adjacent clip fingers. This will permit the useof the clip structure 2 in a position where two preexisting grid memberscross in the overlying ceiling system. The clip fingers 12 will engagethe flange of one grid member while the grid member transverse theretowill be able to pass between the space 16, particularly as shown in FIG.III.

This clip structure 2 is specifically designed for use with the crosstee member shown in the commonly assigned copending U.S. applicationSer. No. 150,401, filed June 7, 1971, in the name of J. W. Boylan andentitled Connection Joint for a Concealed Ceiling Suspension System. Asshown in FIG. II, the clip structure 2 has been mounted on an existinggrid member 18 wherein the clip fingers 12 have engaged the horizontalflange 20 of the existing grid member 18. The clip structure 2 is nowheld in position and has its flanges 10 in position to receive a crosstee 22. This cross tee structure is the cross tee structure shown in theabovementioned copending application, and the joint structure whichjoins the cross tee 22 to the clip structure 2 is the subject matter ofthe above-mentioned copending application. As can be seen in FIG. II,the legs 6 and 8 and flange 10 of the clip structure 2 slide into theinverted T-shaped cutout 24 of the cross tee 22. This will then hold thecross tee 22 in position relative to the existing grid member 18. Thiscross tee 22 has flanges 26 upon which are placed the new ceilingboards. These will then underlie the existing boards which are restingupon flange of the existing grid member 18.

Referring now to FIG. III, there is shown the clip structure in positionwhere there are two crossing grid members in the original ceilingsystem. There is the existing grid member 18 and a second grid member 28which is perpendicular to grid member 18. If it is desired to mount theclip structure 2 in position at this point of crossing of two gridmembers, the clip fingers 12 are fastened to the flange 20 of gridmember 18. The horizontal flange 30 of existing grid member 28 can thenpass through the spacing 16 between two adjacent clip fingers 12 whichare holding the clip structure 2 relative to the existing grid member18. The cross tee 22 of the new ceiling suspension system is then heldin position by the clip structure 2.

There is thus provided a ceiling remodeling technique which involves theplacing of a new ceiling system underlying a soiled existing ceilingsystem. This eliminates any need to clean up the grid members of theexisting ceiling system or to remove and dispose of the boards of theexisting ceiling system. The new ceiling system will only addapproximately 1% inch additional drop to the ceiling and this can bereadily permitted in most rooms. The new ceiling system will line upwith existing lighting fixtures, and thus a considerable saving in boardcutting will be realized. Also, there will be no need to lower theexisting lighting fixtures because a simple molding structure can beplaced around the edge of the lighting fixture to conceal the raw edgesof the board of the new ceiling system.

What is claimed is:

l. A clip structure adapted to be fastened to an existing ceilingsuspension system comprising a vertical web structure and a lowerhorizontal flange structure, on the end of the web structure which isspaced from the flange structure there being positioned means forengaging a flange of an existing ceiling suspension system to hold theclip structure relative to the flange of the existing ceiling suspensionsystem, a new ceiling suspension member being then fastened to the lowerhorizontal flange of the clip structure whereby a horizontal flange ofthe new ceiling suspension member may serve as a resting point for theboards of a new suspended ceiling system which is disposed directlyunderneath of the existing ceiling suspension system.

2. The clip structure of claim 1 wherein the vertical web of the clipstructure is composed of two legs which are resiliently mounted relativeto the lower horizontal flange, said means for engaging the flange of anexisting overlying ceiling suspension system being generally inclinedU-shaped clip fingers which slide over the edge of the flange of theexisting overlying ceiling suspension system and hold the clip structurerelative to the overlying ceiling suspension system.

1. A clip structure adapted to be fastened to an existing ceilingsuspension system comprising a vertical web structure and a lowerhorizontal flange structure, on the end of the web structure which isspaced from the flange structure there being positioned means forengaging a flange of an existing ceiling suspension system to hold theclip structure relative to the flange of the existing ceiling suspensionsystem, a new ceiling suspension member being then fastened to the lowerhorizontal flange of the clip structure whereby a horizontal flange ofthe new ceiling suspension member may serve as a resting point for theboards of a new suspended ceiling system which is disposed directlyunderneath of the existing ceiling suspension system.
 2. The clipstructure of claim 1 wherein the vertical web of the clip structure iscomposed of two legs which are resiliently mounted relative to the lowerhorizontal flange, said means for engaging the flange of an existingoverlying ceiling suspension system being generally inclined U-shapedclip fingers which slide over the edge of the flange of the existingoverlying ceiling suspension system and hold the clip structure relativeto the overlying ceiling suspension system.